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Glossary

Acute CINV: Nausea and/or vomiting that occurs within 1 day of the start of chemotherapy.

Antianxiety medicines: Medicines that are used to produce a feeling of relaxation. They may be helpful for anticipatory CINV.

Anticipatory CINV: Nausea and/or vomiting that usually occurs because of CINV that happened during earlier rounds of chemotherapy. Symptoms appear before a new round of chemotherapy has begun. The smells, sights, and sounds of the treatment room may cause this type of CINV.

Antiemetics: Medicines used to prevent or treat nausea and/or vomiting.

Cancer: A disease in which cells in a part of the body grow out of control and invade nearby tissues.

Cannabinoids: Medicines used to help relieve CINV. Cannabinoids work by turning on signals in the brain that help prevent nausea and vomiting. Cesamet is a cannabinoid.

Central Nervous System (CNS): The brain and spinal cord.

Chemotherapy: A type of cancer treatment that uses drugs to destroy cancer cells or slow down their growth. Chemotherapy may cause side effects, such as CINV.

Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV): Nausea and/or vomiting that occurs because of chemotherapy.

Combination therapy: The use of more than one chemotherapy drug at the same time to treat cancer.

Controlled substance: A drug that may be abused but also has a medical use. Cesamet is a controlled substance.

Dehydration: Not having enough water in the body or not having enough fluid where it is needed in the body.

Delayed CINV: Nausea and/or vomiting that occurs at least 1 day after chemotherapy.

Emesis: Vomiting.

Euphoria: A feeling of pleasure or well-being; a high feeling.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA): An agency within the US federal government that decides if medical treatments are safe and effective.

Indication: The condition(s) for which a medication is approved. For example, Cesamet has an indication for CINV after other medicines for nausea and/or vomiting don’t work well enough.

Nabilone: The scientific name for Cesamet.

Nausea: A feeling of queasiness or sickness in the stomach and sometimes the throat. It can make someone feel dizzy or lightheaded, have increased saliva (spit), trouble swallowing, skin temperature changes, or a fast heart rate. Nausea may occur with or without vomiting.

Sedative: A medicine used to produce a feeling of calmness, relieve anxiety, or aid sleep.

Steroids: Drugs that may be used to help relieve CINV by reducing inflammation in the stomach.

Vomiting: "Throwing up" the contents of the stomach.

Please see Full Prescribing Information and see below for important risk information.

Cesamet Indication

  • Cesamet is a medicine for nausea and vomiting caused by cancer chemotherapy. It is used when other drugs have not been able to control these symptoms. The scientific name of Cesamet is nabilone.
  • Doctors prescribe other drugs first because Cesamet can affect your mental state. Other nausea and vomiting drugs usually do not have this kind of side effect.
  • Cesamet can affect your mental state, so you should take it around an adult you trust. This is most important when you first take Cesamet and if your doctor changes your dose.
  • Cesamet can be abused, so there are laws about how doctors can prescribe it. Prescriptions for Cesamet should last for just a few days.
  • Your doctor might watch you for signs of abusing Cesamet. If you or a family member has ever abused drugs or had a mental illness, you might have a higher risk of abusing Cesamet.
  • Only take Cesamet when your doctor told you to. It should not be the first drug you take for nausea and vomiting.

Cesamet Important Risk Information

  • Do not take Cesamet if you are allergic to any of its ingredients or any other cannabinoids.
  • The effects of Cesamet last longer in some people than others. Mental side effects could last for 2 or 3 days after you stop taking it.
  • Cesamet works in your brain. You might feel dizzy, sleepy, "high", uncoordinated, anxious, confused, or depressed while taking Cesamet. You might also hear or see things that are not real.
  • Cesamet can make your heart race or blood pressure drop. Ask your doctor about this if you are older or have high blood pressure or heart disease.
  • Cesamet affects people differently. You should take Cesamet around an adult you trust. This is most important when you first take Cesamet or if your doctor changes your dose.
  • Do not drive, use machines, or do other activities that could be dangerous until you know how Cesamet affects you.
  • Do not drink alcohol, take sleeping pills, or take other medicines that affect your brain while you are taking Cesamet. If you do, the side effects of Cesamet could be worse.
  • Talk to your doctor if you have ever had depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or another mental disorder. Cesamet could bring out the symptoms of these illnesses.
  • Cesamet is similar to marijuana. Tell your doctor if you ever abused or were dependent on alcohol or marijuana.
  • Cesamet has not been studied in pregnant women, nursing mothers, or children. These patients should be careful when taking Cesamet.
  • Cesamet can change heart rhythms. The effects of these changes in heart rhythms are not known.
  • In scientific studies, most patients who took Cesamet had at least one side effect. The most common side effects were sleepiness, dizziness, dry mouth, a "high" feeling, an uncoordinated feeling, a headache, and problems concentrating.

Cesamet Important Risk Information

  • Do not take Cesamet if you are allergic to any of its ingredients or any other cannabinoids.
  • The effects of Cesamet last longer in some people than others. Mental side effects could last for 2 or 3 days after you stop taking it.
  • Cesamet works in your brain. You might feel dizzy, sleepy, "high", uncoordinated, anxious, confused, or depressed while taking Cesamet. You might also hear or see things that are not real.
  • Cesamet can make your heart race or blood pressure drop. Ask your doctor about this if you are older or have high blood pressure or heart disease.
  • Cesamet affects people differently. You should take Cesamet around an adult you trust. This is most important when you first take Cesamet or if your doctor changes your dose.
  • Do not drive, use machines, or do other activities that could be dangerous until you know how Cesamet affects you.
  • Do not drink alcohol, take sleeping pills, or take other medicines that affect your brain while you are taking Cesamet. If you do, the side effects of Cesamet could be worse.
  • Talk to your doctor if you have ever had depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or another mental disorder. Cesamet could bring out the symptoms of these illnesses.
  • Cesamet is similar to marijuana. Tell your doctor if you ever abused or were dependent on alcohol or marijuana.
  • Cesamet has not been studied in pregnant women, nursing mothers, or children. These patients should be careful when taking Cesamet.
  • Cesamet can change heart rhythms. The effects of these changes in heart rhythms are not known.
  • In scientific studies, most patients who took Cesamet had at least one side effect. The most common side effects were sleepiness, dizziness, dry mouth, a "high" feeling, an uncoordinated feeling, a headache, and problems concentrating.

Cesamet Indication

  • Cesamet is a medicine for nausea and vomiting caused by cancer chemotherapy. It is used when other drugs have not been able to control these symptoms. The scientific name of Cesamet is nabilone.
  • Doctors prescribe other drugs first because Cesamet can affect your mental state. Other nausea and vomiting drugs usually do not have this kind of side effect.
  • Cesamet can affect your mental state, so you should take it around an adult you trust. This is most important when you first take Cesamet and if your doctor changes your dose.
  • Cesamet can be abused, so there are laws about how doctors can prescribe it. Prescriptions for Cesamet should last for just a few days.
  • Your doctor might watch you for signs of abusing Cesamet. If you or a family member has ever abused drugs or had a mental illness, you might have a higher risk of abusing Cesamet.
  • Only take Cesamet when your doctor told you to. It should not be the first drug you take for nausea and vomiting.